Paper napkin, towel, and the like



Sept. 20, 1932;

L LA VECK PAPER NAPKIN, TOWEL, AND THE LIKE Filed March 26, 1950 INVENTOR bod/s LIA VECK ATTORNEY5 Patented Sept. 20, 1932 UNITED sr LOUIS LA VECK, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK PAPER NAPKIN, TCIWEL, AND THE LIKE Application filed March 26, 1930. Serial No. 438,947.

fining its limits, Figs. 1, 2, 3,4 and are views- .11 illustrating the paper napkin, towel or the like at various successive stages in the folding thereof; and Figs. 6 and 7 are opposite face views of another form of said folded napkin, towel or the like.

For purposes of simplicity and for no other reason, the description hereinafter has been restricted to paper napkins with a distinct understanding that this term is intended to include paper towels and other devices which may be included in the general class to which the present invention relates. 'The paper napkin may be made of any suitable material, but is preferably constructed of crepe paper in the form of a rectangle of predetermined dimensions in which the grain of the crepe preferably runs lengthwise of the rectangle, as shown in Fig. 1. In this figure the napkin is indicated at A and the grain of the crepe is designated as B. In folding the napkin in this form the lower end portion G thereof is folded on the dotted line D upon the main portion of the napkin A, as indicated in Fig. 2. After this has been done, the upper portion E of the napkin is folded on the dotted line F to the position indicated in Fig. 8. The folding lines D and F are so located with respect to the upper and lower ends of the napkin and relatively to each other that the end edges G of said napkin will be spaced apart, as shown in Fig. 3. The folding of the napkin is completed by folding the right hand portion H of the napkin in Fig. 3 inwardly upon the folding line I to the position shown in Fig. 4, after which the left hand portion J of said folded napkin is folded inwardly in the opposite direction upon the folding line K to a position in which it overlaps the previously folded portion H as shown in Fig. 5, which represents the completely folded napkin. In this completely l6 folded condition the spaced edges G of the napkin provide a bottomed groove L extending transversely of the folded napkin upon opposite faces thereof; in other words, the edges G are capable of being easily picked up by the finger of the person desiring to unfold the napkin, this picking up being facilitated by that portion of the folded napkin which lies beneath and forms a bottom for the grooveL. i V In the form shown in Figs. 6 and 7 the napkin is folded in the same way as indicated in Figs. 1, 2-and 3, but the opposite end portions of the napkin, instead of being folded inwardly over and upon each other, as shown in Fig. 5, arefoldedinwardly so as tolie upon opposite faces of the folded napkin, as clearly shown in said Figs. 6 and 7. In this form of the folded napkin, the edges Gr corresponding to the aforesaid edges G, are eX- 7 posed only upon one face of the folded napkin, which accordingly includes but one'exposed transverse groove L upon the one face of the folded napkin. l/Vith this form, the edges G are available upon only one face for picking up to bring about the unfolding of said napkin, Whichin all other respects corresponds to the form first described.

If the form of folded napkin shown in 7 :Figs. 6, and 7 is utilized, it is simply necessary 35 to render that face of the folded napkin on which the transverse groove L appears accessible, .so that the opposite edges G of the folded napkin may be rendered available for its removal from the supply. 96

From the above it will be seen that the novel method of folding the'napkins provides free transverse edges enabling individual napkins to be easily removed from a supply thereof or withdrawn from a carrier or its equivalent; the character of the fold is such that the napkin'is automatically unfolded coincidentally with its removal from a supply or its withdrawal from the carrier. As previously stated the folded napkins illusm5 trated and described herein are self-supporting in an upright position, because of the napkin.

fact that the grain of the crepe runs lengthwise of the folded napkins in contradistinction to existing folded napkins made of crepe paper in which the grain of the crepe runs crosswise; such existing folded napkins collapse easily and require rigid supports to maintain them in upright positions in con-' tainers or the like. The novel folding of the napkin enables the stock to be run faster on the folding machine than is possible with 'portions located in overlapping relation upon that portion of the opposite face of said folded napkin lying between said transverse folding lines.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

. v LOUIS LA VECK.

napkins folded in existingways, this being due to the fact that the character of the novel fold requires no intermittent motion in the folding'machine to effect the folding-of the It is also possible to use a cheaper grade of-material in the novel-folded napkin illustrated and described herein, because of the fact that the novel folding permits easy removal of the napkins from a container without tearing. thereof; existing napkins re quire a better stock to prevent such tearing, because of the additional effort required in the removal of such napkins resulting from the manner of "folding the same.

' In order to avoid misunderstanding, it is repeated that even though the description is limited to paper napkins, it is intended to insite end portions folded towardeach other upon one face of the napkin with the opposed edges of said folds spaced apart in the folded 7 condition, and folded toward each other transversely of said first folds upon the 0p posite faceof said napkin to cause said spaced opposed edges to provide bottomed transverse grooves upon the opposite faces of said folded napkin to facilitate unfolding thereof, the

folding being so arranged that the grain of the crepe runs lengthwise of the folded napkin to reduce the, tendency thereof in its folded condition to flex upon itself.

2. A napkin of rectangular form having its single ply folded on spaced parallel lines into surface engagement with one face of said napkin to form adjacent .two ply sections projecting toward each other and having their opposed free edges separated from each other, and'folded on parallel transverse lines extending at right angles to said first folding lines to providetransverse folded 

